They emphasize that the Directive should put environment at its heart. They warn that unless the decisions based on the Directive are made to ensure health of the environment and on the precautionary principle, the EU’s ’Blue Growth’ agenda will never be sustainable. In care of sea birds and entire marine environment in Slovenia and broader DOPPS – BirdLife Slovenia joins this common position.

Navadna čigra (Sterna hirundo)

Our recommendations can be summarised as follows:

1. The ecosystem-based approach to planning means that Good Environmental Status under the MSFD should be the overarching objective of the MSP-ICM Directive.

2. The Directive should recognise that sustainable development implies limits to blue growth and should apply the precautionary principle.

3. The establishment of a coherent and well-managed network of coastal and marine protected areas should not be further delayed by the Directive.

4. The Directive’s requirement for public participation should be brought in line with the SEA directive.

5. The Directive should clarify the role of regional sea conventions and should include the requirement for a long term spatial vision for the regional seas in which MSP-ICM should be embedded.